2011 May Moments

May2011

Four Red Dragon Teams Place in the National Top-10 and Athletes Excel in Track and Field

SUNY Cortland has a lot to be proud of again this year with four teams earning top-10 Division III national finishes. Women's lacrosse matched its highest finish in program history with a tie for third at the NCAA Division III "Final Four," setting a school record with 21 wins.

The softball team placed fourth nationally at the World Series with a 2-2 mark, finishing the season with a 42-5-1 record. Men's lacrosse earned a tie for fifth nationally after reaching the national quarterfinals for the 10th consecutive season. Baseball, which earned its 19th straight NCAA berth, finished tied for ninth this year after a 5-4 loss to Keystone College in the championship round of the New York Regional.

The women's outdoor track and field team finished fourth in the team standings and the men's team set a school record in winning the 4 x 400-meter relay at the ECAC Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships last weekend. Both the men's and women's teams will have members competing in individual events at the Division III championship meet this weekend at Ohio Wesleyan. For information on all Red Dragon teams and players please visit www.cortlandreddragons.com.

College Acknowledges Half Century Club at Commencement

The last time Carole Wilsey Phillips wore a cap and gown for SUNY Cortland's Commencement, the Marshall Plan was just getting under way, Israel and North Korea had just declared themselves independent nations and gasoline cost 16 cents a gallon.Read More...

Cortland Alumnus Honored for Diversity Efforts

Charles Alexander '74, an administrator at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), will receive a $25,000 award from the California Wellness Foundation for his efforts in diversifying the health workforce.

Alexander, associate vice provost for student diversity and director of UCLA’s Academic Advancement Program, will be honored with the Champions of Health Professions Diversity Award on June 1 in recognition of his work keeping at-risk students on track in health and science studies.

Join us for a special SUNY Cortland Alumni Reception on June 12, at the NY Jets training facility in Florham Park, N.J. Special guests from the New York Jets will make appearances throughout the afternoon. Don't miss what is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to mingle with your fellow alumni, participate in raffles for NY Jets merchandise and meet key Jets staffers. Register Now.

New York City Gathering Planned for June 7

Meet from 4-6 p.m. at Jake's Saloon on West 23rd Street, just off 7th Avenue to network and party with recent graduates! A special raffle for June 12 New York Jets Florham Park Reception will be held. A free drink for the first 50 alumni to show up. All alumni are welcome.

Campus Champions

Steven Canals

If freshmen year was a CD track, Steven Canals would hear it every day on repeat. For six years, the residence hall director of Shea Hall has helped students deal with the anxiety that comes with the first-year college experience.

Whether it's homesickness or uncertainty about a major, Steven has been one of his residents' greatest resources. He prompts them to act with care and consideration, something that he has done as a program coordinator in the Multicultural Life Office and the advisor of the student group, Spectrum. A thoughtful champion, Steven is always listening, even if it's a song he has heard before.

Jaclyn Pittsley '02 M '05

When it comes to learning the ins and outs of SUNY Cortland and its surrounding area, just ask Jackie Pittsley '02. The part-time lecturer in the English Department grew up in nearby Cincinnatus, N.Y., and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the College in 2002 and 2005.

Jackie introduces students in her Cortland Experience class to campus facilities and parts of downtown Cortland they might not discover by themselves. The planetarium in Bowers Hall and the local YMCA are just two examples. Jackie's ability to communicate the Cortland experience, as an alumna and a faculty member, marks one of her most winning qualities.